“WHAT BAPTISM DOES AND DOES NOT DO:

1. Why baptize people? Sometimes the water is cold, dirty, or in an outside environment.

2. Baptizing a person may be inconvenient. At least one person gets wet. Why baptize people?

3. What does baptism do?

I IF YOU ARE TAKING NOTES YOU MIGHT MAKE TWO COLUMNS ONE YOUR PAPER. OVER ONE OF THESE COLUMNS YOU MIGHT HAVE, “WHAT BAPTISM DOES?” IN THE SECOND COLUMN YOU COULD WRITE, “WHAT BAPTISM DOES NOT DO.”

A. I will first start with some of the things that baptism does. Bible baptism buries a person’s old B. life. Before becoming a Christian, accountable people are guilty of sin Rom. 3:10

C. When a person becomes a Christian, all previous sins are removed.

D. This removal means that the complete record of one’s sin is destroyed.

E. Paul explains how a person’s sin record is abolished in Rom. 6. Paul tells us that the process

F. involves baptism. I will read from Rom. 6 vs. 3-4.

1) As Jesus died on the cross, so Christians “die.” This death cannot be literal.

2) Several here have been baptized; we are not in a grave. The death therefore must be

3) figurative and it is. Paul taught that we die to the old way of life. The man who used to

4) curse and swear at everyone buries that sin. The person who was a drunkard buries the bottle. Rom. 6 also tells us that baptism buries our sins.

G. Baptism is what removes sins. It tears apart our record of sins.

H. This message is found several times in the NT Acts 22:16.

I. Does baptism do anything else besides take away our past sins? Yes, it puts us into J Christ 1) The Bibles uses the expression “in Christ” several times.

2) Scripture indicates that being in Christ is important. Eph. 1:3 says that all spiritual

3) blessings are in Christ. Thus, if we want any spiritual blessings we must be in Christ.

J. Do you know that baptism is the way that we get into Christ? Gal. 3:27 says, READ

K. What does baptism do? Buries our sins and puts us into Christ

L. If this is all that baptism does, it would be a great benefit.

M. Baptism accomplishes much more than what I have stated.

N. Bible baptism saves us. Jesus said in Mk. 16:16 READ

1) A lot of religious people would like to restate Jesus’ words.

2) Many would have the Lord’s remarks read,

3) “He that believeth and is possibly baptized…he shall be saved.

4) Jesus said, READ AGAIN MK 16:16. People say to me,

5) “You mean that God w/turn unbaptized people away from heaven”

O. What did Jesus say?

1) McDonalds is currently playing another Monopoly game’

2) I am going to assume that some of you are playing

3) One of the possible prizes is a free box of French fries.

4) Suppose you go to McDonalds tomorrow for lunch. You get to the cashier.

5) Coming to McDonalds was 1^st condition to collecting prize.

6) You do not have a ticket that entitles you to free French fries.

7) Yet you say to the cashier, “I want some free fries.” What will the server say to you?

8) You have not met all the conditions. If this is clear and I have no doubt that it is.

P. Why is Mk. 16:16 so difficult to understand? If both conditions are not met, people

G. Will not claim prize of baptism as part of their salvation.

H. Because baptism has eternal significance, it creates joy. We read about this joy in Acts 8.

I. Part of Acts 8 tells about a preacher and a non-Christian. The preacher had a Bible study,

J. With the non-Christian. This study was not around a kitchen table or even in a house.

K. These two men were riding in a chariot. As the men were making their way away from L. Jerusalem a question was asked. This question is in verse 36 READ.

M. The non-Christian asked to be baptized. How come? He had been taught what baptism does.

1) I have experienced situations similar to Acts 8. After studying with a person for a while

2) I was asked, “May I be baptized now?” The non-Christian described in Acts 8 was 3) baptized, v. 38. The result of the baptism is found in v. 39 READ.

N. Baptism brings joy to people. It thrills one’s heart because:

1) A lost person has now been saved; One who had no spiritual blessing now has every

2) Spiritual Bless; The baptized person has now had all their sins wiped away.

O. Joy is also created because baptism changes a relationship before baptism a person cannot

P. Be a member of Jesus’ church. Accountable people cannot be a member of God’s kingdom.

Q. Properly baptized people enter into both the kingdom and the church.

1) Acts 2 tells of people who were baptized. Verse 47 of that chapter says, READ.

2) Concerning the kingdom Jesus said in JOHN 3:5 READ HIS answer.

II BAPTISM DOES A LOT. HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT BAPTISM WILL NOT DO. BAPTISM HAS SOME LIMITATIONS. TO PREVENT US FROM OVER RATING THE ACT OF BAPTISM, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE ALSO NOTE WHAT BAPTISM CANNOT DO.

A. Baptism cannot help babies; I say this because of question that comes from some young people

1) I have been told by some youth, “my mother was pregnant with when she was baptized.

2) When she was dipped, I too would have been dipped. Doesn’t this count?

3) Must I be dipped again? Others have said, “I was baptized as a baby.”

B. These questions were asked in sincerity, and they deserve to be answered.

C. As be look at the Bible, we find answers. Let’s go back to John 3, vs. 3.

1) John 3:3 says, READ. We must be “born again.”

2) John 3:3 tell us that salvation is an individual responsibility. Parents can’t help us. Moreover,

3) Before we can be born anew, we must meet some conditions. Recall MK. 16:16 with me.

4) READ, Belief is required. Acts 2:38 tells us that repentance goes before baptism

5) Infants can’t believe and repent. Unborn children can’t believe and repent.

6) Thus Jesus said that children are “safe”, LK. 18:17.

D. Baptism is not needed by children, and it does them no good. Speaking of children, let us move E. Past the stage of infancy. Let’s say that a 14 year old girl is baptized.

1) Is that girl now a woman? Does baptism make her prepared for pregnancy and marriage?

2) No. A 14 year old girl is still a girl who is 14 years old. Baptism does not make her a woman.

3) What about a boy who is baptized at 10, 12, or 14? Is he a man?

4) Would it be right to send him out with other men to work? Would it be right for him to put

5) Insulation into trailers 10 hrs. Would it be right for a 12/13 year old to be engaged within 6) Six months? NO. Children do not become grown ups when they are immersed.

F. Yet, this is now some young people are treated.

1) I was at an area preacher’s meeting last Tuesday. During the meeting one preacher said,

2) “We have a problem” A young boy has been baptize, the class he used to be in was being 3) Taught by a woman. Members now believe it would be wrong for this boy to stay in this class.

4) Brethren are saying, “A woman would be teaching a man.” This is creating a serious problem.

G. Brethren, this situation should not have arisen. Although this boy has been baptized, he is still a B

H. We can read the NT through again and again. Never will we find a place that condemns a woman

I. Teaching a baptized boy. We might think that such a passage exists they was people talk.

J. The Bible does not condemn what I have described.

1) The Bible does speak of expediency. God’s word instructs us to use good sense.

2) Some years ago I was asked this question: “We have a 17 year old boy who has been baptized. 3) The best choice for his class is a woman teacher, what do you think? I appealed to expediency.

a) The baptized boy was still a boy. No one could prove that the 17 year old boy was a man.

b) From the angel of expediency a male teacher made good sense. This is what was done.

K. Objecting to a woman teaching a baptized boy especially young boys is an error.

L. This error needs to be opposed. Baptism does not make children adults. It never has & never will.

M. There are some other things that baptism does not do.

1) It does not help the improperly taught. If baptism could help improperly taught people,

2) Set up a big…The Bible speaks of teaching before baptism – belief and repentance.

N. Baptism cannot and will not take away the consequences of sin.

1) I know of a man who has smoked for a long time. It is a virtual certainty that cigarettes have

2) damaged his body. Baptism washed his sins away. He is on an oxygen machine.

O. Baptism will not change one’s relationship.

1) If one has stolen money, and is then baptized, Stolen money may not be kept.

2) The money is not “cleaned.” What I am describing is very important to our country.

3) God has a law concerning marriage and divorce. MT 19:9. Let’s suppose that:

4) A couple is married, but their marriage violates Gods marriage. Will baptism change the

5) Relationship? Just as a person may not keep money stolen before baptism, a sinful

6) Marriage is not made right in God’s sight.

P. Baptism will never take away sinful consequences or change a sinful relationship.

Q. Baptism will also not make one perfect. After baptism God’s people will continue to sin.

R. The sinning is not willful; it is not what Christians want.

CONCLUSION:

1. Perhaps this day you have had a change of heart. You want to get away from sin; get rid of your past

2. You want to experience the joy that baptism offers. You want kingdom and church membership.

3. You want your old life to be buried and to be put into Christ. We are ready.

4. All you need to do is say, “I’m ready. Now is the time.”

5. If this is your decision, come now. Without delay.